Apparatus for ascertaining the buoyancy of gas-bags or the like.



S. D. WHEELER. APPARATUS EOR ASGERTAINING THE BUOYANGY 0P GAS BAGS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1909.

Patented May 25, 1909.

THE NoRms PETERS 6a., wasumcranl, n4 cv Unrrnn orat SAMUEL D. WHEELER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR ASGEBTAINING THE BUOYANCY OF GAS-BAGS OR THE LIKE.

Application filed January 16, 1909.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Serial No. 472,752.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL D. Wnnnrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented an A )p aratus for Ascert aining the Buoyancy of as-Bags or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to balloon or airship apparatus and more specifically to such as is used in ascertaining the upward pull or bu oyancy of such craft.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of the character mentioned which may be em loyed to accurately and exactly ascertain t 1e buoyancy of a balloon or airship or the like, during the inflation thereof, it being, as is known, of essential importance that the aeronaut know the exact drag or upward pull of his balloon before ascending.

A further object of my invention is to pro vide an apparatus as stated which will be of great efficiency though extremely simple of construction.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

lYith these objects in view my invention consists in an apparatus characterized as above mentioned and in certain details of construction and arrangement of parts all as will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a p art of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 illustrates the preferable arrangement and construction of my apparatus, also illustrating the a )plication thereof, and Fig. 2 is a detail end e ovation of one of the anchor posts embodied in my invention, illustrating the connection therewith of the cable conduit.

Referring now to the drawings 11 indicate posts of any suitable dimensions, the same being firmly and rigidly anchored in the ground, with the upper extremities thereof positioned preferably slightly below the surface of the earth. Extending between said posts, the extremities of the same being secured thereto, preferably by means of brackets 2, is a conduit 3. Said brackets 2 are preferably angular in form, the extremities 4 and 5 respectively of pairs thereof being suitably secured, but preferably by means of bolts 6 and rivets 6 to the end portions of said posts and said conduit. Rotatably mounted in said pairs of brackets 2 are channeled pulleys 7, the same being so positioned that the lower edges thereof lie in alinement with the axis of said conduit. Extending through said conduit and passing under said pulleys is a cable or other suitable flexible cord 8 of great tensile strength.

9 indicates an ordinary, preferably spring scale, the same being suspended from a suitable supporting frame. The lower extremity of said scale is secured to one of the extremities of the cord 8.

in use a gas bag 12, upon the inflation thereof, is secured in any suitable manner to the extremity 13 of the cable, it being obvious that in such event the amount of upward pull or buoyancy of such bag, will, through the medium of said cable, be indicated by the scale.

Vhile I have shown what I deem to be the preferable form of my apparatus, 1 do not wish to be limited thereto, as there might be many changes made in the details of construction, as for instance in the anchoring means and in the means of securing the cable conduit thereto, and in'thc arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Ha *ing described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An apparatus of the character described, comprising anchored posts, brackets provided at the upward extremities of said posts, pulleys mounted in said brackets, a conduit, the extremities thereof being secured to said brackets, a cable extending through said conduit passing under said pulleys, a scale in operative connection with one extremity of said cable and a support for said scale, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL lVHEELER.

ll itnesses JOSHUA R. H. Po'rrs, HELEN F. LILLrs. 

